Earnings vary by occupation, size of the State or locality, and region of the country. As in most industries, professionals and managers earn more than other workers. Earnings in the occupations having the largest employment in State and local government appear in table 3.
Table 3. Median hourly earnings of the largest occupations in state and local government,
except education and hopitals, 2002
| Occupation |
Local government |
State government |
All industries |
| Police and sheriff's patrol officers |
$20.20 |
$22.64 |
$20.32 |
| Fire fighters |
17.92 |
13.58 |
17.42 |
| Bus drivers, transit and intercity |
16.95 |
|
14.22 |
| Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators |
15.97 |
|
16.05 |
| Correctional officers and jailers |
15.08 |
15.99 |
15.71 |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general |
14.83 |
13.73 |
14.12 |
| Court, municipal, and license clerks |
12.90 |
14.34 |
13.12 |
| Office clerks, general |
12.03 |
12.56 |
10.71 |
| Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners |
10.95 |
11.25 |
8.77 |
| Recreation workers |
8.98 |
15.95 |
8.69 |
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) reported the 2002 median annual salaries of selected executive and managerial occupations in local government shown in table 4. Employer-provided benefits—including health and life insurance and retirement benefits—are more common among State and local government employees than among workers in the private sector.
Table 4. Median annual salary for selected executive and managerial occupations in local government, 2002
| Occupation |
Salary |
| |
|
| City manager |
$85,000 |
| Assistant chief administrative officer |
74,486 |
| Engineer |
70,011 |
| Chief financial officer |
67,688 |
| Information services director |
67,248 |
| Chief administrative officer |
66,950 |
| Fire chief |
64,141 |
| Economic development director |
63,847 |
| Chief law enforcement official |
62,005 |
| Human resources director |
61,156 |
| Public works director |
60,570 |
| Parks and recreation director |
56,000 |
| Human services director |
55,684 |
| Health officer |
55,209 |
| Purchasing director |
52,728 |
| Chief librarian |
48,000 |
| Treasurer |
46,200 |
| Clerk |
44,071 |
| Chief elected officials |
11,300 |
| |
|
|
SOURCE: International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
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